Unemployment rate lower than expected (Xinhua) Updated: 2004-12-18 00:51
China's registered urban unemployment rate is 4.3 percent this year, 0.4
percentage points lower than the estimation made at the beginning of the year,
said the Ministry of Labor and Social security here Friday.
Addressing a working conference, Zheng Silin, minister of Labor and Social
Security, attributed the success in lowering the unemployment rate to the
employment services and control on unemployment the Chinese government enhanced
this year.
According to statistics released by the ministry, China had a total of 8.21
million jobless people, at an registered unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, in
its urban areas by the end of September, 0.1 percentage point lower than that of
last year.
Meanwhile, a total of 9.1 million jobs were newly increased while 4.6 million
laid-off workers had been re-employed from January to November this year.
"We will try to create more jobs," said the minister.
He also said the Chinese government will make great efforts next year to lock
the urban unemployment rate at 4.6 percent by adding 9 million jobs and offering
jobs for 5 million laid-off workers.